Shrub rose plant named &#39;Radnov&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct shrub rose plant is provided that abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive double blossoms that are light pink in coloration. The plant exhibits vigorous upright and bushy growth habit. The foliage is medium green with a satiny finish. Good disease resistance combined with good winter hardiness is displayed. The plant is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Radnov

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida rose plant was derived from the ‘Radtkopink’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,507) through the use of induced mutagenesis followed by selection. More specifically, during September 2005 tissue cultured shoots of the ‘Radtkopink’ variety were subjected to gamma irradiation to form a population of plants which included various mutants. These plants were thereafter grown in a greenhouse at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., and were carefully evaluated. A single plant of the present invention was selected during June 2006 from among the resulting plants primarily in view of its distinctive light pink blossom coloration combined with other attractive traits.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive         double blossoms that are light pink in coloration,     -   (b) exhibits an upright and bushy growth habit,     -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (d) forms attractive medium green foliage with a satiny finish,     -   (e) exhibits good disease resistance, and     -   (f) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the         landscape.

The winter hardiness of the new variety has been found to be very good during observations to date. The blooming cycle of the new variety has proven to be generally comparable to that of the ‘Radtkopink’ variety.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The light pink blossoms contrast nicely with the satiny medium green foliage.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from plants of the ‘Radtko’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836), and the ‘Radtkopink’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,507) upon an inspection of the blossoms. More specifically, the ‘Radtko’ variety forms bright red blossoms, and the ‘Radtkopink’ variety forms bright pink blossoms that are substantially darker in coloration than the light pink blossoms of the new variety of the present invention.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Waso, Calif., U.S.A. and at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexual propagation, such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces in a true-to-type manner by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Radnov’ and will be marketed in the United States under the BUBBLE DOUBLE trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of the new variety were approximately three years of age and were observed during June while growing outdoors on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of the new variety during August while growing outdoors in containers on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—approximately 1 meter on average at the end of the             growing season.         -   Width.—approximately 1 meter on average at the end of one             growing season.         -   Habit.—upright and bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144A. — adult             wood: Yellow-Green Group 146A.         -   Texture.—generally smooth when young and when mature.         -   Thorns.—size: approximately 7 to 9 mm in length on average,             commonly with some smaller prickles near the peduncle,             commonly approximately 4 per branch on average, oblong at             the base and tapering to a fine point at the apex, near             Yellow-green Group 145A in coloration when immature, and             near Greyed-Orange Group 177B in coloration when mature. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—a three-leaflet leaf commonly is approximately 7 to 10             cm in length on average including the petiole and             approximately 5 cm in width on average, and a five-leaflet             leaf commonly is approximately 5 cm in length on average             including the petiole and approximately 7 to 8 cm in width             on average.         -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5 and 7. — length: approximately 2 to 4             cm on average. — width: approximately 2 cm on average at the             widest point. — shape: ovate with a rounded base. — margins:             serrulate. — texture: smooth on both surfaces, leathery, and             with a coarse midrib on the under surface. — overall             appearance: very dense, leathery, and medium green with a             satiny finish. — color (young foliage): upper surface:             commonly Green Group 137A. under surface: commonly             Yellow-Green Group 146B. — color (adult foliage): upper             surface: commonly Yellow-Green Group 147A. under surface:             commonly Yellow-Green Group 147B.         -   Stipules.—length: approximately 12 mm on average. — width:             approximately 5 mm on average with the auricle facing             outwards. — texture: smooth on both surfaces. — color: near             Yellow-Green Group 144B.         -   Petioles.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A in             coloration with some prickles. under surface: near Green             Group 139D. length: commonly approximately 18 mm on average.         -   Rachis.—upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A. — under             surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A. — length: commonly             approximately 4 to 6 mm on average. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—in clusters sometimes with up to             approximately 24 to 26 blooms per cluster.         -   Peduncle.—superior strength with the blossoms often being             held upright, medium green, near Yellow-Green Group 141D in             coloration, commonly approximately 6 cm in length on             average, approximately 2.1 mm in diameter on average, and             commonly bears some prickles.         -   Sepals.—upper surface: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A             in coloration. under surface: commonly near Yellow-Green             Group 138C in coloration. — size: commonly approximately 1.5             cm in length on average, and approximately 6 mm in width on             average at the base. — number: five. — texture: commonly             bears some fine hairs at the edges. — apex: generally             acuminate.         -   Buds.—shape: slender. — size: small to medium. — length:             approximately 2.5 cm on average as the calyx breaks.         -   Flower.—form: double and somewhat informal. — color (when             opening begins): upper surface: Red-Purple Group 62D. under             surface: Red-Purple Group 65D. — color (when blooming):             upper surface: Red Group 49A. under surface: Red Group 37C.             — color (at end of blooming): upper surface: Red Group 36D.             under surface: near Red Group 49C. — fragrance: very light             sweet scent. — petal number: commonly approximately 20 to 30             on average. — petaloids: none observed. — petal shape:             commonly wedge-shaped with a curled apex. — petal size:             commonly approximately 3 cm in length on average and             approximately 2 cm in width on average. — petal drop: the             petals commonly drop cleanly and freely at full maturity;             however, during hot humid weather there is some tendency for             the petals to remain attached. — lastingness: the blossoms             commonly last approximately two weeks on the plant depending             upon environmental conditions, and up to approximately 5             days or more when cut and placed in a vase. — stamen:             approximately 113 on average, and regularly arranged about             the pistils. — anthers: approximately 3 mm in length on             average, approximately 1.8 mm in width on average, and             Yellow-Orange Group 22A in coloration. — filaments:             approximately 6.3 mm in length, and near Red Group 48D in             coloration. — pistils: separate and free, and approximately             36 on average. — styles: commonly approximately 5.5 mm in             length, and near Red Group 45B in coloration. — stigmas:             approximately 0.8 mm in diameter, and near Yellow Group 13C             in coloration. — receptacle: generally rounded, smooth,             approximately 13 mm in length on average, approximately 9 mm             in width on average, near Yellow-Green Group 144B in             coloration, and with achenes standing on the bottom and             wall. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—vigorous and strong.         -   Blossoming.—early, abundant and substantially continuous             during the growing season.         -   Resistance to disease.—very good, with resistance to             Blackspot, Mildew, and Rust having been displayed during             observations to date.         -   Hardiness.—very good, with plants having over-wintered at             West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6b.         -   Formation of hips/seeds.—sparse. 

1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive double blossoms that are light pink in coloration, (b) exhibits un upright and bushy growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive medium green foliage with a satiny finish, (e) exhibits good disease resistance, and (f) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described. 